Configurable functionality chaining

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for configurable functionality chaining. One computing device embodiment includes a client layer, a functionality layer, and a data store layer. The client layer receives a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients. The functionality layer having an application program interface (API) interprets the client instruction and selects a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction. The data store layer stores data for use by the number of functionality modules.

1 . A computing device, comprising: 
 a client layer to receive a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients;    a functionality layer having an application program interface (API) to interpret the client instruction and to configure a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction; and    a data store layer to store data for use by the number of functionality modules.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the number of functionality modules are chained together in series.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the number of functionality modules are chained together in parallel.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the number of functionality modules is used multiple times in forming the functionality chain.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the API includes a number of functionality module configurations for forming the functionality chain.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the API includes instructions to identify a particular functionality module configuration to utilize and includes instructions to initiate functionality modules in accordance with the particular functionality module configuration.  
   
   
       7 . A method for configurable functionality chaining, comprising: 
 receiving a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients;    selecting a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction; and    accessing a number of data stores to obtain data for use by the number of functionality modules.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving a client instruction from the at least one of the number of clients includes receiving a number of client instructions in different messaging formats.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving a number of client instructions in different messaging formats includes messaging formats selected from the group including; 
 JMS;    RPC;    Tuxedo; and    CORBA formats.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein accessing a number of data stores to obtain data for use by the number of functionality modules includes accessing a number of data stores on a number of different computing devices.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein accessing a number of data stores on different computing devices includes accessing data stores provided in a number of different computing device software formats selected from the group including; 
 Oracle;    MySQL;    Enscribe;    LDAP;    SQL/MX; and    Times Ten formats.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method is provided by a single application program interface.  
   
   
       13 . A method for configurable functionality chaining, comprising: 
 receiving a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients;    interpreting the client instruction to select a number of functionality modules to configure a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction; and    accessing a number of data stores to obtain data for use by the number of functionality modules.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein interpreting the client instruction to select a number of functionality modules includes identifying an application format for the client instruction and matching the application format to a corresponding functionality module configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein interpreting the client instruction to select a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction includes selecting the number of functionality modules from the group including; 
 notification of change;    partitioning;    proxy;    tracing;    security; and    filtering.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the notification of change can notify one or more clients of a change made to the functionality chain.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the notification of change can notify one or more clients of a change made to one of the number of functionality modules.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein filtering provides for restricting access to a number of particular data stores of the number of data stores.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein filtering provides for restricting access to particular data within a particular data store of the number of data stores.  
   
   
       20 . A computing system, comprising: 
 a number of computing devices, each having access to a number of functionality modules for accomplishing a client instruction; and    a computing device, including: 
 means for receiving a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients;  
 means for selecting a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction; and  
 means for accessing data, for use by the number of functionality modules, from a number of data stores.  
   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the means for receiving a client instruction is provided by an application program interface.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the means for selecting a number of functionality modules is provided by an application program interface.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the means for accessing data, for use by the number of functionality modules, from a number of data stores, is provided by an application program interface.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the means for receiving a client instruction from the at least one of the number of clients and the means for selecting a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction are provided by a single application program interface.  
   
   
       25 . A computer readable medium having instructions executable for causing a device to perform a method, comprising: 
 receiving a client instruction from at least one of a number of clients;    selecting a number of functionality modules to form a functionality chain for use in accomplishing the client instruction; and    accessing a number of data stores to obtain data for use by the number of functionality modules.